Who We Are
Since achieving independence in 1975, Papua New Guinea (PNG) has struggled to translate its natural resource wealth into sustainable social and economic development for its citizens. Despite being one of only 17 megadiverse countries, PNG’s rich biodiversity is also among the most threatened.
PNG’s forest biodiversity is under considerable threat. 2.9 million hectares of rainforest in PNG (about 15% of all PNG rainforests) now are degraded and the national rate of forest conversion is 0.49% per year. PNG’s most recent report to the Convention on Biological Diversity estimates that by the date of current 2020 Aichi Targets (end 2020), 83% of the commercially-accessible forest areas will have been cleared or degraded if current trends continue (https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/pg/pg-nr-05-en.pdf). PNG’s aggressive infrastructure and road systems development goals, when achieved, will open even more rainforest for commercial exploitation. Without a clear plan to balance forest conversion with biodiversity conservation, livelihoods and wellbeing of the majority of the population who live in rural and remote areas also is at risk. As the resource base erodes, pressure on government to care for this population will increase with potential decreases in social cohesion and increases in conflict.
PNG is the largest Pacific island country and its exclusive economic zone of 3.12 million km2 is the world’s second largest. PNG’s principal marine and coastal ecosystems include 13,840 km2 of coral reefs, 4,200 km2 of mangrove swamp forests, and extensive seagrass beds. The country
is home to at least 500 species of stony coral, 1,635 reef-associated fish species, 43 mangrove species, and 7 seagrass species. Many (Asian Development Bank. State of the Coral Triangle: Papua New Guinea. 2014) of PNG’s coastal areas are remote and isolated and this isolation results in restricted human activity in these areas. In areas that are more accessible,
environmental pressure on the country’s reef resources includes: (i) terrestrial sedimentation from poor land management practices; (ii) overfishing, particularly of invertebrates such as sea cucumbers; (iii) loss of predators at higher levels of the food chain; (iv) destructive fishing
practices; (v) crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks; and (vi) coral bleaching (Asian Development Bank. State of the Coral Triangle: Papua New Guinea. 2014).
While a customary system of tenure applicable to fringing reefs and inshore fishing resources is widely practiced in many coastal communities, the practice of temporarily closing reefs underthe customary tenure management regime is declining. Global climate change will likely affect
PNG’s reefs and coastal areas. Management of environmental stresses from human activity must be addressed if reef areas and communities are to remain resilient and stable.
PNG’s coral reefs are mainly located on the country’s north and east coasts. The LGP works in Madang Province’s coastal and marine areas that fall under two globally significant programs; the Bismarck Solomon Seas Ecoregion covering Western Pacific, and the Coral Triangle Initiative
that aims to address threats to marine, coastal and small island ecosystems within the region. Over 1,300 species of marine and estuarine fish have been recorded in Madang, including leatherback sea turtles and dugongs.
Few marine protected areas exist in PNG and pressure on inshore fisheries is increasing, especially coral reef fisheries in more populated areas. Fish is a major source of dietary protein, particularly in island and coastal areas, evident in the relatively high annual per capita fish consumption of coastal community residents, which is estimated at 53.3 kilograms (Asian Development Bank. State of the Coral Triangle: Papua New Guinea. 2014). 3 As a result, awareness of and support for marine resource conservation and management are mainly limited to areas in which nongovernment organizations are active, such as Kavieng and Kimbe Bay, and Madang and Manus provinces.
GoPNG has identified Madang Province as one of ten priority provinces for integrated rural development and it lies within the GoPNG Economic Development Corridor. As such, Madang Province is particularly vulnerable to threats from mining, forestry concessions, palm oil plantations, sugar refinery, cattle, shipping lanes, and a new marine industrial park that already includes tuna processing.
On July 24, 2019 USAID/Philippines awarded Cardno Emerging Markets USA, Ltd. a cooperative agreement to implement the USAID PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP). In Tok Pisin, Lukautim Graun translates to “protect the environment”. Cardno leads a team of three PNG-based nongovernment organizations, including The Nature Conservancy (TNC), The Woodland Park Zoo’s (WPZ) PNG Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) based in Lae, Morobe Province, PNG, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
The objective of LGP is to create an environment and facilitate mechanisms through which communities, the private sector, and government work in partnership for the common goals of conservation and sustainable development. The LGP team envisions an environment in which customary owners have the skills, knowledge, and incentives to manage sustainably their lands and to reduce the threats to biodiversity, food security, and social cohesion. LGP works to create an environment and work with partners to build partnerships, new lines of communication, and increased political will supporting biodiversity conservation.
